Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method comprising: determining, by a computer device, that an identified Short Message Service (SMS) device, associated with a service request from a user equipment (UE) device, is associated with a link failure; instructing, by the computer device, the UE device to take action based on determining that the identified SMS device is associated with a link failure; receiving, by the computer device, a request from the UE device, in response to instructing the UE device to take action; and assigning, by the computer device, a functioning SMS device to the UE device, in response to receiving the request.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein instructing the UE device to take action based on determining that the identified SMS device is associated with a link failure includes: instructing the UE device to detach from a wireless network associated with the SMS device, based on determining that the identified SMS device is associated with the link failure; and wherein the request received from the UE device includes a re-attach request to re-attach to the wireless network.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving a service request from the UE device; and identifying the SMS device based on the received service request, wherein the SMS device includes an SMS Inter-Working Function (IWF) device.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining that the identified SMS-IWF device is associated with the link failure includes: determining that a link associated with the identified SMS-IWF device is down; and wherein assigning the functioning SMS-IWF device to the UE device includes: assigning a different SMS-IWF device to the UE device.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the service request corresponds to a Tracking Area Update (TAU) request, and wherein determining that the identified SMS-IWF device is associated with the link failure includes: determining that a link associated with the identified SMS-IWF device experienced a failure since a last TAU request received from the UE device.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining that the identified SMS-IWF device is associated with the link failure includes: accessing a database that stores information relating to link failures associated with SMS-IWF devices in a wireless access network.
7. The method of claim 3 , further comprising: monitoring links associated with SMS-IWF devices in a wireless access network; detecting the link failure associated with the identified SMS-IWF device; and updating a database that stores information relating to link failures associated with SMS-IWF devices in the wireless access network based on the detected link failure.
This invention relates to monitoring and managing link failures in wireless access networks, specifically for Short Message Service Interworking Function (SMS-IWF) devices. The SMS-IWF acts as an intermediary between wireless networks and external messaging systems, facilitating SMS delivery. A key challenge in such networks is ensuring reliable communication links between SMS-IWF devices and other network components. Link failures can disrupt SMS services, leading to message delivery delays or failures. The invention addresses this by implementing a system that monitors links associated with SMS-IWF devices in a wireless access network. The system detects link failures when they occur and updates a centralized database with information about these failures. This database stores records of link failures, allowing network operators to track issues, analyze patterns, and improve network reliability. The monitoring process involves continuously checking the status of links connected to SMS-IWF devices, identifying any disruptions or degradations in connectivity. Upon detecting a failure, the system records relevant details, such as the time, duration, and affected devices, in the database. This data can then be used for troubleshooting, performance optimization, and proactive maintenance. The solution enhances network resilience by providing real-time visibility into link failures, enabling faster response times and reducing service interruptions.
8. The method of claim 3 , further comprising: receiving an SMS message for the UE device via the assigned functioning SMS-IWF device, wherein the SMS message was sent during a time period associated with the link failure; and forwarding the received SMS message to the UE device.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the service request includes at least one of: a service request for an update from an application server (AS) device; or a service request to send information to the AS device.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the link failure includes an SGs interface link failure.
11. A computer device comprising: a memory configured to store instructions; and a processor configured to execute the instructions to: determine that an identified Short Message Service (SMS) device, associated with a service request from a user equipment (UE) device, is associated with a link failure; instruct the UE device to take action based on determining that the identified SMS device is associated with a link failure; receive a request from the UE device, in response to instructing the UE device to take action; and assign a functioning SMS device to the UE device, in response to receiving the request.
12. The computer device of claim 11 , wherein, when instructing the UE device to take action based on determining that the identified SMS device is associated with a link failure, the processor is further configured to: instruct the UE device to detach from a wireless network associated with the SMS device, based on determining that the identified SMS device is associated with a link failure; and wherein the request received from the UE device includes a re-attach request to re-attach to the wireless network.
13. The computer device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to: receive a service request from the UE device; and identify the SMS device based on the received service request, and wherein the SMS device includes an SMS Inter-Working Function (IWF) device.
14. The computer device of claim 13 , wherein, when determining that the identified SMS-IWF device is associated with the link failure, the processor is further configured to: determine that a link associated with the identified SMS-IWF device is down; and wherein, when assigning the functioning SMS-IWF device to the UE device, the processor is further configured to: assign a different SMS-IWF device to the UE device.
15. The computer device of claim 13 , wherein the service request corresponds to a Tracking Area Update (TAU) request, and wherein, when determining that the identified SMS-IWF device is associated with the link failure, the processor is further configured to: determine that a link associated with the identified SMS-IWF device experienced a failure since a last TAU request received from the UE device.
16. The computer device of claim 13 , wherein, when determining that the identified SMS-IWF device is associated with the link failure, the processor is further configured to: access a database that stores information relating to link failures associated with SMS-IWF devices in the wireless access network.
17. The computer device of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to: monitor links associated with SMS-IWF devices in a wireless access network; detect the link failure associated with the identified SMS-IWF device; and update a database that stores information relating to link failures associated with SMS-IWF devices in the wireless access network based on the detected link failure.
18. The computer device of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to: receive a Short Message Service (SMS) message for the UE device via the assigned functioning SMS-IWF device, wherein the SMS message was sent during a time period associated with the link failure; and forward the received SMS message to the UE device.
19. A system comprising: a plurality of Short Message Service Inter-Working Function (SMS-IWF) devices configured to send and receive Short Message Service (SMS) messages to a plurality of user equipment (UE) devices; and a Mobility Management Entity (MME) configured to: determine that an identified SMS-IWF device, of the plurality of SMS-IWF devices and associated with a particular UE device of the plurality of UE devices, is associated with a link failure; and assign a functioning SMS-IWF device, of the plurality of SMS-IWF devices, to the particular UE device, when the particular UE device re-attaches to the MME.
The system addresses the problem of SMS service disruptions in mobile networks when a Short Message Service Inter-Working Function (SMS-IWF) device fails, causing users to lose SMS functionality until manual intervention or reattachment. The solution involves a network architecture with multiple SMS-IWF devices and a Mobility Management Entity (MME) that monitors and manages SMS-IWF failures. When the MME detects a link failure in an SMS-IWF device serving a particular user equipment (UE) device, it assigns a functioning SMS-IWF device to that UE when it reattaches to the network. This ensures continuous SMS service without requiring manual intervention or user action. The system dynamically reassigns SMS-IWF devices to maintain service reliability, improving user experience and network resilience. The MME's role includes failure detection and automatic reassignment, while the SMS-IWF devices handle SMS message routing. This approach minimizes downtime and ensures seamless SMS communication even during partial network failures.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the MME is further configured to: monitor links associated with the plurality of SMS-IWF devices; detect the link failure associated with the identified SMS-IWF device; and update a database that stores information relating to link failures associated with the plurality of SMS-IWF devices based on the detected link failure.
This invention relates to a telecommunications system for managing Short Message Service (SMS) traffic in a mobile network, specifically addressing the challenge of maintaining reliable SMS delivery when interworking function (IWF) devices fail. The system includes a Mobility Management Entity (MME) that interfaces with multiple SMS-IWF devices to route SMS messages between mobile devices and external networks. The MME monitors the operational status of links connecting these SMS-IWF devices to the network. If a link failure is detected for a specific SMS-IWF device, the MME records this failure in a centralized database. The database tracks link failures across all SMS-IWF devices, enabling the system to identify recurring issues and improve network reliability. This solution ensures continuous SMS service availability by dynamically rerouting traffic away from failed devices and maintaining an up-to-date record of network performance. The system enhances fault detection and recovery in mobile networks, particularly for SMS services, by automating the monitoring and logging of link failures.
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February 9, 2021
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